Britain, Serbia: Bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks on KFOR and in Banjska

Britain, Serbia: Bring to justice the perpetrators of the attacks on KFOR and in Banjska

At the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, The United Kingdom’s Ambassador, Neil Holland, called on Kosovo authorities to form the new government as soon as possible, describing this as an urgent matter for the country’s institutional and political stability.

In his statement, Hollande also expressed concern about the ongoing tensions in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo and the uncoordinated closures of institutions providing services to non-majority communities.

“We continue to underline to interlocutors in Kosovo the urgency of government formation,” he said, also praising the peaceful and competitive holding of the parliamentary elections in February, as well as the support that the OSCE provided to the Central Election Commission during this process.

During his speech, Hollande welcomed Gerard McGurk as the new Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and commended the Mission’s work in a complex political and security context.

The British Ambassador stressed the importance of the Government of Kosovo ensuring full and equal participation of non-majority communities and fulfilling its commitments as a multiethnic and inclusive state.

He reiterated the United Kingdom’s position on the need for justice regarding attacks on KFOR and the Kosovo Police in 2023, including the incident in Banjska and the attack on the Ibër-Lepenc canal.

“We call on Serbia to cooperate fully with efforts to bring to justice those responsible for these acts,” Hollande declared.

He also underlined the importance of fulfilling the parties’ commitments within the framework of the European Union-mediated Dialogue, including the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities, warning that non-implementation of agreements harms the lives of citizens and regional stability.

In his speech, the British ambassador commended Kosovo’s progress in the fight against corruption, but expressed concern about political influence on the media and the safety of journalists, expressing the United Kingdom’s support for OSCE activities in this area.

Holland reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s commitment to an independent and sovereign Kosovo, as well as its commitment to peace and cooperation in the Western Balkans, including the role of Special Envoy Dame Karen Pierce and the hosting of the Berlin Process Summit in London this autumn. /Telegraph